Winners announced for the Zero Emission Flight programme.

We are proud to announce the 15 winning projects that will be recipients of the Department for Transport’s latest Transport Research and Innovation Grant programme – TRIG: Zero Emission Flight, which is being delivered by Connected Places Catapult. This programme is part of the wider Zero Emissions Flight Infrastructure project, which will identify the opportunities and challenges associated with adopting zero emission aircraft within airport environments.

TRIG: Zero Emission Flight has sought commercial organisations and universities that are looking to develop technologies and solutions in a number of areas that will help the UK achieve Jet Zero. In particular, projects will address the feasibility of integrating hydrogen and electric infrastructure systems in airfields.

The competition has offered grants of up to £50,000 to fund 15 innovative technology development projects from 12 organisations within these priority areas:

• Hydrogen storage, handling, aircraft refuelling/defueling, distribution, and associated technologies
• Electric charging, storage, handling, batteries, electric distribution, and associated technologies for electric-powered aircraft
• Research into future demand scenarios for airside use of green hydrogen and electricity at UK airports

The winning projects are:

Cranfield University (3 projects) –

• Low carbon energy demand scenarios for aviation (LOCESA)

• Wireless opportunity charging of electric aircraft

• Hydrogen Safety in Aviation: an immersive XR training scenario for airport personnel

University of Warwick (2 projects) –

• Creation of Full Airport Energy Model to Simulate/Understand Infrastructure Impacts of Electric and Hydrogen Aircraft and Support Vehicles on Airports – A Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) Case Study with Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA)
• Evaluation of safety zones and mitigation measures for hydrogen refuelling infrastructure at airports

Protium Green Solutions Limited –

• Developing a digital twin for the fast refuelling process and procedure for gaseous hydrogen aircraft

Hive Composites Limited –

• Next-Generation Thermoplastic Composite Pipe for Hydrogen Distribution in Airports

Stratospheric Platforms Ltd –

• Development of a safety zonal tool for the operation of liquid hydrogen powered aircraft at airfields

EGB Engineering Consultants Ltd –

• Modelling of Electricity and Green Hydrogen Scenarios to meet future Airport Demand (MEHSAD)

ZeroAvia Limited –

• Liquid Hydrogen Airport Refuelling Ecosystem (LHARE)

University of Strathclyde –

• Solutions Pathway Evaluation Toolkit for Airside Infrastructure to Power Zero Emissions Flight

Ultima Forma Ltd –

• Flexible electroformed twin-walled hydrogen fuel hoses

Ampaire Ltd –

• Modelling demand of electric aviation and airport infrastructure

School of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Queen’s University Belfast –

•  UltraCompHy: Ultra-lightweight composite pressure vessels for safe and cost-effective hydrogen storage

CD02 Ltd –

• SafeBatt: Swappable aircraft battery packs for safe ground handling and charging

CEO of Connected Places Catapult, Nicola Yates OBE said:

“Connected Places Catapult is delighted to welcome these fifteen innovative projects onto the TRIG: Zero Emission Flight programme. The progress being made in this sector to enable sustainable air travel is exciting and an important step for the UK’s successful transition to net zero.”

Aviation Minister, Robert Courts said:  

“As an island nation, aviation is essential for our future growth and plans to build back better and greener from the pandemic. 

“With COP26 around the corner, we’re ramping up our efforts even further by funding the technology that unlocks the flights of the future.” 

You can find out more about the winning organisations and their projects in our cohort brochure.